Friday, March 9, 2007

Delhi to have its own health cadre soon

New Delhi, December 19:The Delhi Government’s proposal to institute a health cadre of its own has received the Lt Governor’s nod. The proposal was notified yesterday. The proposal involves setting up of a separate Delhi Health Service under the allopathic system of medicine within the city.

Delhi Health Minister Dr Yoganand Shastri today said the process of formation of Delhi Health Service regulations with UPSC will be initiated soon. The new service will cover all civil posts of medical practitioners “that are currently borne on the strength of the Government of the Delhi and are being paid from the Consolidated Fund of Delhi’.’

Till the time the separate health cadre is set up, the members of the Central Health Service who are currently being paid from the consolidated fund of Delhi under the existing arrangement with the Centre will be subject to disciplinary control of the Lt. Governor of Delhi, said the minister. The members of the Central Health Services will also be liable to work on any post to which they are posted by the competent authority in the Delhi Government and will be entiltled to their existing grade pay.

Dr Shastri said the Department of Health and Family Welfare has been directed to take consequential steps, including holding of consultation with the UPSC for the framing of the service regulations and seeking assessment of the suitability of persons to be appointed under the initial constitution.

“The most important thing with the separate health cadre is that we will be recruiting our own general practitioners as well as specialists although it will be through the UPSC. What this essentially means is that the large number of vacancies in doctors posts will be filled,’’said senior health officials in the Delhi Government today